No. 9 Volleyball Set for 2 Top-10 Matchups

Friday, November 12 | 8 p.m. ET
No. 9 Purdue at No. 4 Wisconsin
B1G+

Sunday, November 14 | 4:30 p.m. ET
No. 9 Purdue at No. 8 Minnesota
Big Ten Network
 
MADISON, WIS. - The No. 9 Purdue Boilermakers (18-5, 10-4 B1G) continue its four-match road stretch with a pair of top-10 matches on the road. First, Purdue will take on No. 4 Wisconsin in UW Field House on Friday at 8 p.m. ET before traveling to No. 8 Minnesota for a 4:30 p.m. ET Sunday matchup on Big Ten Network.

Purdue is looking to sweep Wisconsin this season, having downed the Badgers 3-1 on Halloween just two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Purdue will play its lone match against Minnesota this year, and will look for its first win at Minnesota since 1998.

THE BEST IN BLOCKING

• Since Oct. 20, no other Power 5 team has produced as many blocks as the Boilermakers, who own 77.5 over the last six matches (joins Tennessee Tech, 81.5 and Stephen F. Austin, 79.5).
• Raven Colvin leads the nation among all freshmen with 38 blocks during that same time period. It is 8th-most among all D1 student-athletes and 2nd-most among Power 5 athletes (joins Magda Jehlanova, Washington St., 40).
• Last Friday, Purdue held the nation's top blocking team to 13 total blocks, and out-blocked them 15-13.
• Meanwhile, Purdue held the nation's blocking leader, Rainelle Jones (Maryland) to xxx blocks.
• Jael Johnson posted 17 blocks last week to lead the Big Ten.

ON THE RISE: EMMA ELLIS

• Ellis is at the top of her game, registering at least eight kills in the last four straight matches.
• After matching a career-high earlier this season with 13 kills vs Lipscomb (9/11), Ellis bested her performance at Maryland when she led the team with 15 kills - the first time in her career she has led the team.
• Ellis rounded out her performance at Maryland with a .370 hitting % and three block assists.
• Ellis owns a career-high .600 attack % vs. Lipscomb (9/11). 

WISCONSIN BADGERS
Series History: 33-52 (WIS Leads) | Last Meeting: Oct. 31, 2021 (W, 3-1 at PUR)

• Purdue took down Wisconsin in four sets on Halloween just two weeks ago, handing the Badgers its second loss of the season.
• The Badgers are putting their 10-0 home record on the line as they face the Boilers, who beat the Badgers (3-1) on October 31, 2021.
• Against ranked opponents, Wisconsin is 6-1, with its lone loss coming to the Boilermakers. 
• Wisconsin leads the Big Ten in hitting % (.297) and are led by Dana Rettke, the Big Ten leader and is 2nd in Division 1 with a .479 attack %.
• Rettke is on pace to best her own record for season hitting percentage, despite having already set the Wisconsin program record in career hitting percentage.
• Sydney Hilley is first in both the Big Ten and Division 1 with an average of 12.01 assists per set.
• The Badgers own a strong serve that is led by Izzy Ashburn, who averages 0.45 aces per set, which is good for 2nd in the Big Ten.

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS
Series History: 31-56 (MIN Leads) | Last Meeting: Feb. 6, 2021 (L, 2-3 at PUR)

• The last time Purdue and Minnesota faced off, Jena Otec set a career-high 31 digs, Caitlyn Newton set a career-high 29 kills (2/6), 84 attacks (2/5) Minnesota is on a six-match win streak with four wins over ranked opponents during that stretch, including wins against Nebraska and Ohio State twice.
• Purdue is looking for their first win against Minnesota since 11/10/15 and their first win at Minnesota since 11/28/1998.
• Minnesota is 6-5 against ranked opponents, but have won four straight, ,which includes four the team's last six matches.
• The Golden Gophers are led by Stephanie Samedy, who leads the Big Ten in points per set (5.24).
• Minnesota leads the Big Ten in digs per set (17.00) and are led by CC McGraw with 4.58 digs per set.